I do have lots of support from friends @teenie87 - I fact I feel really lucky in that regard and keep reminding myself of that when I start feeling sorry for myself. My husband is being really fantastic and I have a good network of friends who are regularly checking in. Thanks for asking - it’s so important for all of us to have that support. But ultimately we go through this alone, don’t we - I do feel that everyone else’s lives are carrying on while the rug has been pulled out from under mine, all summer plans cancelled and difficult to plan ahead as we don’t know when “normal” life will resume. As well as the bigger demons, worrying about surgery and the longer term health implications. So I am thinking about accessing some sort of counselling to help me to process all of that. Does anyone have any recommendations for how to access counselling? It hasn’t been mentioned to me by my BCN and she’s on holiday at the moment. Not sure if there is anything available via the hospital.
Hunting for sea glass sounds like a lovely thing to do. Do you live near the coast?
Hello! That sounds tough with 2 small children but you sound very level headed. How far into your treatment/chemo are you? I’ve only had my first one so I’ve still got a lot to learn! Hoping that you are also enjoying a sense of normality along this crazy journey! Sending hugs
Hello! I can’t recall if I responded to you or not so apologies if I already said this! I really appreciate your message. Your household sounds similar to mine but even busier! I like the way that you have taken the approach to let everyone live as normal life as possible in your household. I might be erring on the side of hygiene mania at the moment but perhaps I’ll relax slightly as time goes by. Wishing you well on your journey.
Hello - yes, this is the club that nobody wants to join! Thanks for your message and advice. That all sounds sensible. It must be tough not seeing your grandchildren, albeit temporary. I also had to ask my eldest son to stay away on his days off from residential work last week(working with big groups of children in an Oxford college) because he was ill and I really missed him. Luckily, he was able to come home this week on his days off and I was sooo grateful to see him. Wishing you well
I accessed councilling thriugh my local hospice and we have a wessex cancer centre, it may be worth speaking to your gp social prescriber if you are uncertain where to access, or perhaps one of the other BCN can help whist yours is on holiday. I hope you manage to get seen soon, it helped me. Hugs
Thanks. I’ve taken the Odansetron but read the info for Domperidone and decided to maybe save that for the really bad stuff. The problem is they’ve only prescribed enough for a week and as I wasn’t sure when I would start to feel sick . I was hit by the truck in the middle of the night with sweats cramps and the Mother of all headaches! Took my temp and surprised it was only 35.7. But I’m up, showered, dressed and watching the Rugby. Going with it. X
Hi everyone, another July chemo starter here. I was diagnosed in April after screening mammogram. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, grade 2, Er+ PR+. HER2-, 1.5cm but had spread to lymph nodes. Underwent surgery in May with wide local excision and axillary lymph node clearance, 4/9 nodes affected. Chemo starts on the 22 July, x4 EC (3 weekly) then Paclitaxel x12 (weekly) followed by 3 weeks radiotherapy then hormonal treatment for 7yrs. Dreading the chemo starting. Going to try cold capping. Reading all the tips and comments on here is really helpful and knowing there is support available here is a comfort too. Good luck go everyone what ever treatment regime you are on. Hope it all goes as well as it can.
you got this!